Hak Seon Yang goes for a 7.40 to kick us off, accelerating down the runway into a triple twist - even landing with a few paces down the mat he'll score well on that. Well, 16.466 is the number from the judges. Again he's lightning fast down towards the board, and this time it's a stylish backwards triple twist, landed cleanly. He's congratulated by all and sundry before we've had a peep from the judges, who eventually go for 16.600, giving him a gold-medal winning 16.533 average.

Gonzalez Sepulveda, owner of a rather fabulous moustache, has just produced a wonderful vault. A crisp clean double pike and he lands without too much movement: 16.400 from the judges. He studies the markings on the floor before launching into his second, again landing a double twist very neatly, with just a wee hop out in front of him. The judges are slow to deliver, but it's a 15.966 to give him a 16.183 average - that's bronze with the world champion left to vault.

The American up next, Sam Mikulak; oh my, a triple twist off and landed with a single step, that's rather nice. As he limbers up for the second the score is announced as 16.100. His second is an easier vault, attracting only 6.600 for difficulty, but he lands the double front without planting his buttocks on the mat, and kisses the vault in celebration. "It's over!" he says, getting a 16.000 to put him in third on 16.050.

Ablyazin lands his first superbly, maintaining the tension in every last muscle through the double pike and needing barely an inch of adjustment through the left leg as he lands. The judges say 16.433, and he decides to go for a 7.2 on the second... oof, half on, two and a half twists off, and he takes on step to land it, planting one leg back just as Radivilov did. He scores 16.366 to get an average of 16.399 - that's gold medal vaulting.

So, Ukraine's Igor Radivilov: it's an incredibly powerful run, a double front that soars through the air and a sensationally controlled landing. A 16.400 for that, and he goes for another 7 difficulty on the second. Oh, a terrific double pike and just a long step back on landing. "Gymnasts these days are defying gravity," say the TV bods, admiring the air between Radivilov and the mat. A cheeky grin as he gets 16.233 and a 16.316 average.

Isaac Botella Perez scampers down towards the vault, the concentration pulling his lips back over his teeth, and he twists two and a half times off the vault and lands with one step. A 15.900 from the judges, shortly before a handspring front and double twist. He is well chuffed with his day's work, controlling the twists and landing with minimal adjustment. Holding up a towel scrawled with a thank you to his family, Botella Perez gets a 15.833 to give him an average of 15.866.

Kristian Thomas salutes surrounded by cheers, waits for everything to calm down and then lands a wonderful vault, pushing off his hands and somersaulting into a double pike. The judges are pleased, awarding 16.366 and settling down for the second, a double front which Thomas doesn't manage to land well - though he did get his feet down first. His score is 14.700 to produce an average of 15.533. He shakes his head.

Flavius Koczi is up first, rubbing his palms together before pulling off a half-turn and triple twist before stepping well off to the left as he lands. His first vault gets a 16.100, and he takes a couple of breaths before launching in to his second, taking in two and a half twists after a massive push off the vault. Again he steps to the side, but it's fairly well controlled. His second vault scores 15.966, leaving him with an average of 16.033.

Coming up next: the men's vault final

More shameless Brit-watching: Kristian Thomas, who was one of the stars of the first week of the Olympics with his incredible composure in the team event, is competing in the men's vault final. He was by some way the best on this apparatus in the team event, posting 16.550 to Denis Ablyazin's 16.400. Here he'll have the Russian to contend with as well as the reigning world champion, South Korea's Hak-Seon Yang. Here's the full list of competitors:

The medal presentation

As the Chariots of Fire remix dies down, the crowd gets a chance to make some noise for the medalists, returning to the arena to collect their goodies. Beth Tweddle steps up on to the podium enveloped by rapturous applause and no small amount of shrieking, dipping her head with a smile as that ribbon goes around her neck. He Kexin waves to the crowd and kisses Tweddle before stepping up to take the silver, a non-stop smile on her face. And finally, Aliya Mustafina, with a half-grin and kisses for both her fellow medalists, steps up to receive the gold. There are Russian flags being wafted around in the crowd as the national anthem plays out loudly, Mustafina watching the one that matters rising above those of China and Great Britain. And once all that's over, the British can get back to cheering Tweddle.

Reaction

"She's gone out on a high," says Louis Smith, running off a list of Tweddle's not inconsiderable achievements over the years. "I thought it was plain sailing, I've seen her do that dismount so many times in training. It was just two small steps and it just shows you how close it can be. You really do have to concentrate down to the last second.

"This is what it has been about for Beth. She just missed out in Beijing. For her to come here in this pressure and to land on her feet and take a medal, she dealt with the pressure superbly."

Beth Tweddle: Olympic bronze medallist

A nervy finish after Aliya Mustafina's routine nudges Kexin in to silver and Tweddle down to bronze, but the moment that Douglas overcooked that flight it looked as though the top three were safe. A fine way for Tweddle to finish her career, adding an Olympic bronze to her collection of world and European titles.

And let's look at the context a moment here: Louis Smith won Britain's first gymnastics medal for approximately 2435 years in Beijing, now Britain has four in London this summer.

Finally, then, Gabby Douglas, smooth as you like until a high leap takes the rhythm out of her swings. It's a nice routine finished off with a double-straight dismount that she lands with only a small backward step, but she looks set to lose execution points... "Aliya" chant some in the crowd, cheering their gold medallist who will be unchallenged by that routine. Beth Tweddle, on for a bronze, looks anxious as we wait for the scores, but finally the announcer utters those few numbers: 14.900. Beth Tweddle signs off with bronze!

Koko Tsurumi now, taking a deep breath and bouncing up onto the higher bar. We're treated to a change of camera angle which shows off how close Tsurumi keeps to the bar. It's not the highest difficulty but there's a decent Tkatchev in there and it's all pretty tidy, bar the odd crooked elbow on the catch. She lands perfectly from a swooping dismount and throws her arms and shoulders back. It's just a 14.966 from the judges, though, and she's in seventh.

"When did the asymmetric bars become the uneven bars?" asks Hugh Stanford, as Aliya Mustafina pulls off some delightful combinations from bar to bar to threaten Tweddle's current placing. She's wonderfully controlled in flight, and holds her landing really well - double high-five from the coach! And she goes in to gold medal position, scoring 16.133. He Kexin looks nervy and Tweddle may be about to vomit.

Beth Tweddle must hardly be able to hear herself think as she leaps onto the first bar and immediately on to the second, the crowd is so noisy. She's so fast from one bar to the other, those leaps and turns threaded closely together as promised and neat as you like, but her landing is untidy again! A huge step back to steady herself, but she takes the applause and looks delighted to have that over with. Hands to her face as we wait for the score... and she goes in to second! 15.916!

China's Jinnan Yao goes before Tweddle, transferring beautifully from one bar to the other and pirouetting with a neatness that almost mutes the barking from the coaches below. A really lovely routine ends with a double straight dismount, earning her hugs from the coaching team and Kexin, and a 15.766 from the judges, putting her in contention for silver as things stand.

Germany now, with Elizabeth Seitz. She's nowhere near as smooth as Komova and isn't quite able to keep her shape on retaking the bar at times, but her flights are high and adventurous. Oh and a neat landing off a full-twisting double dismount, she embraces one of the German coaches looking mighty chuffed. A wave to the cameras and a nod of the head as she goes in to third with 15.266.

Viktoria Komova second, and she launches in to a swooping, elegant routine. There's a befuddling long swing towards the end, in which she seems to catch the bar, and a little side-step off a double-double dismount... she looks glum. There are going to be tears at some point, she's breathing heavily, casting doe eyes at the camera being shoved down her gizzard. After an interminable wait, the judges say: 15.666.

He Kexin goes first, Tweddle turning her back and glugging some drink as the Chinese gymnast salutes. And what a routine from Kexin, coming straight out of a Tkatchev and in to a second somersault without looking at all strained. There's a tiny bit of movement in her landing, but the judges like it: 15.933 is the score, with 7.100 difficulty.

Tweddle takes a deep breath and waves to all four corners of the arena amid a gigantic cheer, almost matched by the reception for Gabby Douglas, whose performances last week were enough to give you goosebumps. What a final this is.

We're promised a short routine from Tweddle, linking one difficult move to another without many easier swings in between. Matt Baker looks as though he might explode upon receiving this news, you can see the exclamation marks exiting his brain. The athletes are marched out to a jaunty Euro dance beat, sending the crowd in to whoops and cheers.

Jotters' notebook: there are three elements to worry about here - flight elements, turns, and grips; they'll be scored on execution and difficulty. "I don't know what she'll do," says GB's Imogen Cairns, asked if Tweddle will ramp up her difficulty (apparently hovering about 7.1 as planned) if Kexin pulls off a 7.3 routine.

Women's uneven bars: Tweddle medal?

Right, now's the time then: Beth Tweddle's swansong. She performed superbly in qualification, posting 16.133 to top China's He Kexin (defending Olympic champion) and the Russian, Viktoria Komova (reigning world champion). Let's hope she remembers what she told this paper a couple of years ago: “it's always easier to chase titles than it is to stay as a champion.” According to mum Anne and dad Jerry, she's taking this all in her stride in any case. “We're not actually as nervous as normal,” Jerry told the BBC earlier today. “There's been such a groundswell of support, and the gymnastics has gone so well,” he added, name-checking Louis Smith (pommel horse silver medallist) and the rest of Britain's male gymnasts, who took team bronze.

The news that He Kexin is going for 7.3 difficulty is a bit of worry for Tweddle's medal hopes, but she doesn't have eyes just for gold; she is after a medal of any colour. According to her parents, who are being well milked on the Beeb, she was so distraught after finishing fourth in Beijing – that wobbly landing, remember? - that she was ready to call it a day. So even being here at the final is a significant milestone for her; “she just wants to do a clean routine”, says Anne, and if it doesn't bring a medal, well, so be it. Hang on, she's not read the script! “It would be the best way to finish my career,” Beth told her local paper, the Chester Chronicle. “If I go there and do the best routine that I can and I come away with a medal, so be it. If it doesn’t I’ve got so much to look back on in my career. I would have walked away very disappointed if I hadn’t made a final. At least I’ve got that final to finish my career off.”

"You said that 'no gymnast has competed in 6 Olympic games'," says Chris Ballard. Uh oh. "I was watching the NBC coverage last night (delayed, oh how I miss the BBC since emigrating) and they were saying that Oksana Chusovitina has been in six." Indeed she has, finishing fifth in the vault to sign off here in London. "I'm happy. I'm not injured," she said afterwards. "I'm healthy and I'm a mummy. Now I'm going to lead a completely normal life with my son." I've edited my post below to reflect the fact that Iovtchev is the only male gymnast to do six Games.

Brazil wins gold in the men's rings final

Very gracious reaction from Chen, who salutes the crowd and holds a Chinese banner aloft to celebrate silver. Italy's Morandi, pipped at fourth in the worlds last year, takes bronze. There are tears in the Brazilian team's eyes as Nabarrete Zanetti stands with his nation's flag held behind him, in front of a mass of cameras.

The last to go: Arthur Zanetti of Brazil. His swings between one strength position and another are fantastically controlled, as is his cross. His arms are doing things that will have Chris B's mind well and truly boggled, lifting Zanetti up a few inches without moving a single other muscle. A small pace to his right as he lands, but the roar from the crowd suggests the judges will be going high... and it's 15.900! That's the gold!

Time for Ablyazin, going for 6.6 difficulty. He'll score highly on execution after a very well controlled routine though, coming off with a double-straight and a double-twist and only momentarily losing shape in the landing. Oh, but as he unstraps his wrists the scoreboard shows 15.633, which leaves him in fourth.

"The rings is the one gymnastic event that always leaves me baffled," says Chris B. I do hope you're not looking for scoring clarification. "I mean, how do they do that? Other events my little brain can cope with, but the rings? Defies laws of physics for me." Try not to think about how Tommy Ramos has just managed that - his holds are perfect to my un-judgely eye, though his swings aren't quite as good. A good somersaulting dismount, though, and only a small side shuffle on the landing. He closes his eyes and throws his hands in the air, and smiles at the 15.600 he's given by the judges. That puts him in fourth.

Now Iovtchev, who is constantly being told how old he is (39). No male gymnast has competed at six Olympic Games. His swinging elements are swift and tidy and strung together very nicely. A slight jump forward on the landing but he looks chuffed with that, and the crowd cheers loudly. He's in fourth with 15.108.

Morandi has been tipped for silver by his teammates, and he starts with two tidy Maltese before unleashing a few somersaults. His swing in to handstand is nice, and but for a slight wobble in the landing, that looked rather good. The judges put him into the silver medal position with 15.733.

Aleksandr Balandin is up on the rings and hushes the crowd with a beautifully still start and well-controlled routine. His dismount is a difficult one, tucking in to straight legs and swooping down centrally and landing without too much adjustment. He scoes 15.666 to go second.

Next up it's Federico Molinari, who described what sounds something like an out-of-body-experience after qualifying at the start of the year. “Everything became a blur,” he told the Argentina Independent, and he ‘watched it like a movie playing in my head’. He pulls off a lovely string of somersaults and then slows in to a really neat hold. Oh and then he staggers out of the landing! What a shame. Molinari score: 14.733. The extra half turn in the dismount cost him there.

First up, it's Yibing Chen, attempting a 6.8 routine - the joint hardest of the day. He is unfathomably still when holding a position and immaculately smooth in the swings. It's a slow and patient routine that builds in to a great big wind up and a faultless landing. He's delighted, waving clenched fists in the air and taking the applause. He scores 15.800, and that includes a 9.000 for execution, which has smoothed out the smile on the Chinese gymnast's face - everyone is wondering how a whole point came off in the course of that routine.

There are quite a few empty seats in Greenwich, but each of the gymnasts gets a decent cheer as he is introduced - especially Bulgaria's Iovtchev, principally because he looks like he's just wandered in wearing a tracksuit and found himself in an Olympic team.

Men's rings final: it's starting

What's that you say? You're only here for Beth Tweddle and Gabby Douglas, a-hunting gold on the uneven bars? Well, tough, because I'm politely watching the men's still rings final first.

If you've been reading up on your artistic gymnastics facts and figures, you'll know there are eight finalists. No surprise that China’s Yibing Chen, who can barely get a hold of the rings without being handed a gold medal, is in there. Brazil’s Arthur Nabarrete Zanetti, who won the test event here earlier in the year and took silver at last year’s world championships – having actually pipped Chen for execution but attempted a routine of lower difficulty – is also rota-ed on for a bit of rings action this afternoon. And there’s one other name from last year’s Tokyo final: Matteo Morandi of Italy, who then finished fourth.

Argentina will be represented by Federico Molinari, who missed Beijing through injury, while the Russians have two gymnasts: European champion Aleksandr Balandin and Denis Ablyazin, who won bronze on the floor. Bulgaria's Iordan Iovtchev made it through at his sixth Olympic Games, still looking to improve on the silver he won in 2004. And last but not least, Puerto Rico is represented by Tommy Ramos, who placed fifth at the test event at the start of the year.

Preamble

This afternoon the curtain is going to come down on the career of Britain's best and most decorated gymnast, Beth Tweddle. Sandwiched in between the men's rings and men's vault finals, the women will take to the uneven bars knowing that Tweddle – three times world champion but never an Olympic medallist – outscored even her most brilliant competitors in qualifying by what Zoe Williams described as “0.14 units of incomprehensibility”. Mother Tweddle, Anne, says Beth is 'calm and prepared'. “If she goes through the routine she stands a chance.” Word is that China's He Kexin is planning a routine that'll attract a whopping difficult rating of 7.3, mind you. Follow events at the North Greenwich Arena from 2pm.